Chapter 2 Quality/Planning/BPU/BPU... · 2018-06-19 · Section A: Chapter 2 – Hiwassee River Basin Overview 11 2.2 Local Governments and Planning Jurisdictions in the Basin The

Section A: Chapter 2 – Hiwassee River Basin Overview 8

Chapter 2 -Basin Overview

2.1 General Overview

The headwaters of the Hiwassee River basin originate in the mountains of northern Georgia andflow north through North Carolina before veering west into Tennessee to join the waters of theTennessee River. Water from the Tennessee River flows to the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and

Mississippi Rivers (Figure A-4). The entire HiwasseeRiver watershed drains 2,700 square miles of land, muchof which lies in the Chattahoochee (Georgia), Nantahala(North Carolina) and Cherokee (Tennessee) NationalForests. In the North Carolina portion of the basin, theHiwassee River and its two major tributaries, the Nottelyand Valley Rivers, drain more than 400,000 acres (644square miles) of Clay and Cherokee counties in thesouthwestern corner of the state (Figure A-5).

The Hiwassee River’s name is derived from "Ayuhwasi",a Cherokee word that signifies a savanna or meadow.This name also referred to at least two importantCherokee settlements, one in Tennessee and the other at

the confluence of Peachtree Creek and the Hiwassee River near Murphy (Ellison, November1999). Water flow is regulated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for flood control andthe production of hydroelectric power via three impoundments: Chatuge Lake on the Georgia-North Carolina state line near Hayesville; Hiwassee Lake near Murphy; and Apalachia Lakeadjacent to the Tennessee border.

Population of the basin, based on 2000 census data, is estimated to be 31,271. Population isexpected to increase approximately 28 percent to 40,063 over the next twenty years. While theresident population may be fairly low, the basin experiences significant seasonal populationfluctuations from recreation and tourist travel. There are two counties and three municipalitieslocated wholly or partly within the basin in North Carolina.

Almost 70 percent of the basin is forested, and only about three percent of land falls into theurban/built-up category. Over a 15-year period between 1982 and 1997, the amount of forest andcultivated cropland in the basin decreased significantly, while the amount of developed landmore than doubled (+14,700 acres). Land used for pasture also increased over the 15-year timeframe (+4,000 acres).

The Hiwassee River basin contains 72 plant and animal species that are endangered, threatened,of special concern, or considered significantly rare by the NC Natural Heritage Program.Twenty-five of these are aquatic, including several endemic species that rely on good waterquality as well as the basin’s unique ecological conditions.

Hiwassee River Basin Statistics

Total Area: 644 mi2

Stream Miles: 967.6No. of Counties: 2No. of Municipalities: 3No. of Subbasins: 2Population (2000): 31,271*Estimated Pop. (2020): 40,063*% Increase (2000-2020): 28.1%Pop. Density (1990): 43 persons/sq. mi.

* Based on % of county land area estimatedto be within the basin.


Figure A-4 General Map of the Entire Tennessee River Valley Including the Hiwassee River Basin


Figure A-5 General Map of the North Carolina Portion of the Hiwassee River Basin


2.2 Local Governments and Planning Jurisdictions in the Basin

The basin encompasses all or part of the following two counties and three municipalities (TableA-3). Both counties are included within the Southwestern Commission Council of Governments(Region A) located in Bryson City (http://www.regiona.org/).

Table A-3 Local Governments and Planning Units within the Hiwassee River Basin

County Municipalities

Cherokee Murphy and Andrews

Clay Hayesville

Note: Counties adjacent to and sharing a border with a river basin are not included as part of that basin if only atrace amount of the county (<2%) is located in that basin, unless a municipality is located in that county.

2.3 Surface Water Hydrology

Most federal government agencies, including the US Geological Survey and the NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS), use a system of defining watersheds that is differentfrom that used by the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) and many other state agencies in NorthCarolina. Under the federal system, the Hiwassee River basin is made up of two hydrologicareas referred to as hydrologic units. DWQ has a two-tiered system in which the state is dividedinto 17 major river basins with each basin further subdivided into subbasins. Table A-4compares the two systems. The Hiwassee River basin is subdivided by DWQ into two subbasins(shown on Figure A-5). Maps of each subbasin are included in Section B of this plan.

Table A-4 Hydrologic Subdivisions in the Hiwassee River Basin

Watershed Nameand Major Tributaries

USGS 8-digitHydrologic Units

DWQ 6-digitSubbasin Codes

Hiwassee RiverChatuge LakeHiwassee Lake, Apalachia LakeValley River, Nottely River

06020002 04-05-01 and 04-05-0204-05-0104-05-0204-05-02

Ocoee Drainage 06020003 04-05-02

In this basin, 967.6 miles of freshwater streams drain 644 square miles in portions of Clay andCherokee counties. The basin is located entirely within the Blue Ridge physiographic province.The NC Blue Ridge Province is a mountainous area of steep ridges, inter-mountain basins andvalleys that intersect at all angles. A larger number of streams drain smaller areas of land in thisregion compared with the piedmont and coastal plain portions of the state.


Hydrologic Features

Water flow in the Hiwassee River basin is regulated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power via three man-made reservoirs:Chatuge Lake on the Georgia-North Carolina state line near Hayesville; Hiwassee Lakenorthwest of Murphy; and Apalachia Lake adjacent to the Tennessee border. Hiwassee Lake isone of 16 lakes selected by DWQ throughout the state as representative of minimally impactedlakes. Apalachia Lake, located immediately downstream of Hiwassee Lake, is a run-of-the-riverreservoir located almost entirely within the Nantahala National Forest. Table A-5 outlinessurface area, average depth and watershed area for each of these reservoirs.

Table A-5 Statistics for Major Lakes (Entire Size Calculations) in the Hiwassee River Basin

Subbasin/Lake

County Classification SurfaceArea (ac)

MeanDepth (ft)

Watershed(mi2)

RetentionTime (days)

04-05-01Chatuge Lake Clay B 6,950 36 187 260

04-05-02Hiwassee Lake Cherokee B, C 6,275 154 968 116Apalachia Lake Cherokee B, C 1,100 59 1,006 12

Despite its location near an area of the state that receives the highest amount of annual rainfall,the Hiwassee River basin has only two significant waterfalls. These are the Leatherwood Falls(Fires Creek Wildlife Management Area of the Nantahala National Forest) in Clay County andthe falls on the Tellico River (Nantahala National Forest) in Cherokee County. Although themountain slopes are steep, the river valleys are broad. Therefore, by the time the flow of thesestreams is large enough to create waterfalls, they begin to fan out into the valley below. Thispattern of topography, in addition to more resistant rock types, explains the low abundance ofwaterfalls (Adams, 1994).

2.4 Land Cover

Land cover information in this section is from the most recent National Resources Inventory(NRI), as developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS, NRI,updated June 2001). The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is a statistically based longitudinalsurvey that has been designed and implemented to assess conditions and trends of soil, water andrelated resources on the Nation’s nonfederal rural lands. The NRI provides results that arenationally and temporally consistent for four points in time – 1982, 1987, 1992 and 1997.

In general, NRI protocols and definitions remain fixed for each inventory year. However, part ofthe inventory process is that the previously recorded data are carefully reviewed asdeterminations are made for the new inventory year. For those cases where a protocol ordefinition needs to be modified, all historical data must be edited and reviewed on a point-by-point basis to make sure that data for all years are consistent and properly calibrated. Thefollowing excerpt from the Summary Report: 1997 National Resources Inventory, providesguidance for use and interpretation of current NRI data:


“The 1997 NRI database has been designed for use in detecting significant changes in resourceconditions relative to the years 1982, 1987, 1992 and 1997. All comparisons for two points intime should be made using the new 1997 NRI database. Comparisons made using datapublished for the 1982, 1987 and 1992 NRI may provide erroneous results, because of changesin statistical estimation protocols, and because all data collected prior to 1997 weresimultaneously reviewed (edited) as 1997 NRI data were collected.”

Table A-6 summarizes acreage and percentage of land cover from the 1997 NRI for the NorthCarolina portion of the basin, as defined by the USGS 8-digit hydrologic units. Data from 1982are also provided for a comparison of change over 15 years. During this period, the amount offorest (-12,900 acres) and cultivated cropland (-6,500 acres) in the basin decreased significantly,while the amount of developed land more than doubled (+14,700 acres). Land used for pasturealso increased over the 15-year time frame (+4,800 acres). Figure A-6 presents these land coverchanges. Descriptions of land cover types identified by the NRI are found in Table A-7.

Table A-6 Land Cover in the Hiwassee River Basin by Major Watersheds – 1982 vs. 1997(Source: USDA-NRCS, NRI, updated June 2001)

MAJOR WATERSHED AREAS *

Hiwassee River Ocoee 1997 1982 %Watershed Watershed TOTALS TOTALS change

Acres Acres Acres % of Acres % of sinceLAND COVER (1000s) % (1000s) % (1000s) TOTAL (1000s) TOTAL 1982

Cult. Crop 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.4 8.4 2.0 -78.6

Uncult. Crop 1.9 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.9 0.5 2.3 0.6 -17.4

Pasture 25.7 6.3 1.2 15.6 26.9 6.5 22.1 5.3 21.7

Forest 147.7 36.3 5.9 76.6 153.6 37.1 166.5 40.2 -7.7

Urban & Built-Up 23.9 5.9 0.4 5.2 24.3 5.9 12.1 2.9 100.8

Federal 188.3 46.3 0.0 0.0 188.3 45.5 185.5 44.8 1.5

Other 17.3 4.3 0.2 2.6 17.5 4.2 17.4 4.2 0.6

Totals 406.6 100.0 7.7 100.0 414.3 100.0 414.3 100.0

% of Total Basin 98.1 1.9 100.0

SUBBASINS 04-05-01 04-05-0204-05-02

8-Digit 06020002 06020003Hydraulic Units

* = Watershed areas defined by the 8-Digit Hydraulic Units do not necessarily coincide with subbasin titles used by DWQ.

Source: USDA, Soil Conservation Service - 1982 and 1997 NRI


Figure A-6 Land Cover Changes from 1982 to 1997 for the Hiwassee River Basin(Source: USDA-NRCS, NRI, updated June 2001)

Table A-7 Description of Land Cover Types (Source: USDA-NRCS, NRI, updated June2001)

Land Use Type Land Use Description

Cultivated Cropland Harvestable crops including row crops, small grain and hay crops, nursery and orchardcrops, and other specialty crops.

Uncultivated Cropland Summer fallow or other cropland not planted.

Pastureland Forage plants for livestock grazing, including land that has a vegetative cover ofgrasses, legumes and /or forbs, regardless of whether or not it is being grazed bylivestock.

Forestland At least 10 percent stocked (a canopy cover of leaves and branches of 25 percent orgreater) by single-stemmed trees of any size, which will be at least 4 meters atmaturity, and land bearing evidence of natural regeneration of tree cover. Theminimum area for classification of forestland is 1 acre; must be at least 1,000 feet wide.

Urban andBuilt-up Land

Includes airports, playgrounds with permanent structures, cemeteries, publicadministration sites, commercial sites, railroad yards, construction sites, residences,golf courses, sanitary landfills, industrial sites, sewage treatment plants, institutionalsites, water control structure spillways and parking lots. Includes highways, railroadsand other transportation facilities if surrounded by other urban and built-up areas.Tracts of less than 10 acres that are completely surrounded by urban and built-up lands.

Other Rural Transportation: Consists of all highways, roads, railroads and associated rights-of-way outside urban and built-up areas; private roads to farmsteads; logging roads;and other private roads (but not field lanes).Small Water Areas: Waterbodies less than 40 acres in size and streams less than one-half mile wide.Census Water: Large waterbodies consisting of lakes and estuaries greater than 40acres and rivers greater than one-half mile in width.Minor Land: Lands not in one of the other categories.

-1 5

-1 0

-5

0

5

1 0

1 5

L a n d U se T y p e

Cha

nge

in A

cres

(10

00s)

Cult. Crop-78.6%

Uncult.Crop

-17.4%

Pasture+21.7%

Forest-7.7%

Urban/Built-up+100.8%

Federal+1.5%

Other+0.6%


The North Carolina Corporate Geographic Database contains land cover information for theHiwassee River basin based on satellite imagery from 1993-1995. The state’s Center forGeographic Information and Analysis (CGIA) developed 24 categories of statewide land coverinformation. For the purposes of this report, those categories have been condensed into fivebroader categories as described in Table A-8. An important distinction between this land coverdataset and that of the NRI is that there is no actual groundtruthing of the satellite-generated data.

Figure A-7 provides an illustration of the relative amount of land area that falls into each majorcover type for the Hiwassee River basin. Section B of this plan provides land cover data specificto each subbasin.

Table A-8 Description of Major CGIA Land Cover Categories

Land Cover Type Land Cover Description

Urban Greater than 50% coverage by synthetic land cover (built-upon area) andmunicipal areas.

Cultivated Areas that are covered by crops that are cultivated in a distinguishable pattern(such as rows).

Pasture/ManagedHerbaceous

Areas used for the production of grass and other forage crops and other managedareas such as golf courses and cemeteries. Also includes upland herbaceous areasnot characteristic of riverine and estuarine environments.

Forest/Wetland Includes salt and freshwater marshes, hardwood swamps, shrublands and all kindsof forested areas (such as needleleaf evergreens, conifers, deciduous hardwoods).

Water Areas of open surface water, areas of exposed rock, and areas of sand or siltadjacent to tidal waters and lakes.

Figure A-7 Percentages within Major CGIA Land Cover Categories in the Hiwassee RiverBasin

Hiwassee River Basin Satellite-Generated Land Cover (1993-1995)

Urban2%

Pasture/ManagedHerbaceous

16%

Cultivated5%

Water8%

Forest/Wetland

69%


Unfortunately, due to differences in the system of categorizing various land cover classes, it isnot possible to establish trends in land cover changes by comparing this data set to previouslyattained land cover data. However, it is anticipated that comparisons will be possible with futuresatellite data since a strong consensus-based effort was made to develop the classification systemthat was used with the 1993-1995 data.

2.5 Population and Growth Trends

Population

Following the 1990 census, North Carolina population data were compared with subbasinboundaries in an attempt to better estimate actual river basin population. Based on thiscomparison, the Hiwassee River basin had an estimated population of 26,723. Table A-9presents census data, by subbasin, for 1970, 1980 and 1990 census data.

In using these data, it should be noted that the census data are collected within boundaries suchas counties and municipalities. By contrast, the subbasin lines are drawn along natural drainagedivides separating watersheds. Therefore, where a census block group straddles a subbasin line,an estimate is made on the percentage of the population that is located in the subbasin. This wasdone by simply determining the percentage of the census block group area located in thesubbasin and then taking that same percentage of the total census block group population andassigning it to the subbasin. Use of this method necessitates assuming that population density isevenly distributed throughout a census block group, which is not always the case. However, thelevel of error associated with this method is not expected to be significant for the purposes of thisdocument. It is also important to note that the census block groups change every ten years, socomparisons between years must be considered approximate. This analysis to determine riverbasin population has not yet been conducted for the recently released 2000 census data.

Table A-9 also includes population densities (persons/square mile) based on the land area(excludes open water) for each subbasin. Most of the basin’s population is located in subbasin04-05-02 in and around the Murphy and Andrews areas.

Table A-9 Hiwassee River Subbasin Population, Densities (1970, 1980 and 1990) and LandArea Summaries

POPULATION 1

POPULATION DENSITY 2

LAND AND WATER AREAS 3

(Number of Persons) (Persons/Square Mile) Total Land and Water Area Water Area Land Area

SUBBASIN 1970 1980 1990 1970 1980 1990 (Acres) (Sq. Miles) (Sq. Miles) (Sq. Miles)

04-05-01 5,236 6,839 7,445 27 35 38 128,717 201 6 195

04-05-02 15,694 18,102 19,278 36 42 45 282,981 442 11 431

TOTALS 20,930 24,941 26,723 33 40 43 411,698 643 17 626

1Population estimated based on US census data and percentage of census block that falls within the subbasin.

2Population density based on land area only. Large wetlands (swamps) not included in area used to calculate density.

3Information generated by the NC Center for Geographic Information Analysis.


Growth Trends

Table A-10 presents population data for municipalities, located wholly or partially within thebasin. The population of Andrews decreased significantly between 1990 and 2000 (-949persons) to a population less than that recorded in 1980. Murphy’s population decreased onlyslightly (-7 persons), while the population of Hayesville grew 6.5 percent (+18 persons). Thisinformation was obtained from the Office of State Planning (April and May 2001).

Table A-10 Population and Percent Change for Municipalities Located Wholly or Partly in theBasin

Municipality County Apr-80 Apr-90 Apr-2000% Change(1980-1990)

% Change(1990-2000)

Andrews Cherokee 1,621 2,551 1,602 57.4 -37.2

Hayesville Clay 376 279 297 -25.8 6.5

Murphy Cherokee 2,070 1,575 1,568 -23.9 -0.4

Table A-11 shows the projected population and percent change in growth between 2000 and2020 for counties that are wholly or partly contained within the basin. Since river basinboundaries do not usually coincide with county boundaries, these numbers are not directlyapplicable to the Hiwassee River basin. Even though 98 percent of Cherokee County iscontained within the basin, only 85 percent of Clay County is encompassed.

Table A-11 Past and Projected Population (1990, 2000, 2020) and Population Change byCounty

County% of County

in Basin*1990 2000 1990-2000

Pop Change

EstimatedPopulation

2020

EstimatedPop Change2000-2020

Cherokee 98 20,170 24,298 4,128 31,053 6,755

Clay 85 7,155 8,775 1,620 11,331 2,556

* Source: North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Note: The numbers reported reflect county population; however, the county may not be entirely contained within the basin.The intent is to demonstrate growth for counties located wholly or partially within the basin.

For more information on past, current and projected population estimates, contact the Office ofState Planning at (919) 733-4131 or visit their website at http://www.ospl.state.nc.us/demog/.

2.6 Natural Resources

The Hiwassee River basin contains 72 plant and animal species that are endangered, threatened,of special concern, or considered significantly rare by the NC Natural Heritage Program.Twenty-five of these are aquatic, including several endemic species (found no other place in theworld). Biologists note that the Hiwassee system is unique because, though technically located


in the Blue Ridge Province, it hosts some plants and animals that are usually associated with thePiedmont.

2.6.1 Rare Aquatic and Wetland-Dwelling Species

Table A-12 presents rare aquatic and wetland-dwelling species. This information was obtainedfrom the NC Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation.

Table A-12 Rare Aquatic and Wetland-Dwelling Species (as of November 2000)

MajorTaxon

CommonName

ScientificName

StateStatus

FederalStatus

fish Sicklefin redhorse Moxostoma sp 1 SR FSC

fish Olive darter Percina squamata SC FSC

fish Tangerine darter Percina aurantiaca WL

fish Sauger Stizostedion canadense SR

invertebrate Caddisfly (no common name) Helicopsyche paralimnella SR FSC

invertebrate Caddisfly (no common name) Matrioptila jeanae SR

invertebrate Caddisfly (no common name) Psilotreta frontalis SR

invertebrate Caddisfly (no common name) Psilotreta labida SR

invertebrate Caddisfly (no common name) Rhyacophila melita SR

invertebrate Caddisfly (no common name) Micrasema burksi SR

invertebrate Mayfly (no common name) Timpanoga lita SR

invertebrate Mayfly (no common name) Leptohyphes robacki SR

invertebrate Stonefly (no common name) Diploperla morgani SR

invertebrate Brown drake mayfly Litobrancha recurvata SR

mussel Littlewing pearlymussel Pegias fabula E E

mussel Tennessee heelsplitter Lasmigona holstonia E FSC

mussel Spike Elliptio dilatata SC

mussel Mountain creekshell Villosa vanuxemensis T

mussel Rainbow Villosa iris SC

mussel Tennessee clubshell Pleurobema oviforme SR FSC

mussel Wavy-rayed lampmussel Lampsilis fasciola SC

crustacean Hiwassee crayfish Cambarus hiawasseensis WL

crustacean Hiwassee headwaters crayfish Cambarus parrishi SR FSC

snail Knotty elimia Goniobasis interrupta E

salamander Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis SC FSC

turtle Bog turtle Clemmys muhlenbergii T

turtle Loggerhead musk turtle Sternotherus minor SC

plant Lichen (no common name) Hydrothyria venosa C


The status of two aquatic species that were listed as significantly rare in the 1997 BasinwidePlan, the Hiwassee crayfish and the Tangerine darter, has been changed. Both species are nowon the Watch List, and although the Watch List status is defined as a "species believed to be ofconservation concern in the state because of scarcity, declining populations, threats topopulations, or inadequacy of information to assess its rarity", the status is an increment abovethe previous designation of Significantly Rare. The Hiwassee crayfish, the Knotty Elimia andthe Hiwassee headwaters crayfish are all endemic to the Hiwassee River basin, meaning they arefound no other place in the world.

Freshwater Mussels

The number of mussels with rare state status in the Hiwassee River basin increased over the lastfive years from three to seven. Here, as in other river basins, freshwater mussels are one of themost threatened groups of species. A number of factors contribute to the decline of musselpopulations. Mussels feed by filtering detritus, diatoms, phytoplankton and zooplankton out ofthe water. Sediment in the stream significantly affects mussels’ ability to feed, and theirsensitivity to other forms of pollution and habitat degradation also impact populations. Also,many mussels have an interesting aspect in their life history which involves parasitizing fish forlarval development. Mussels have developed a clever method of attaching their larvae to thegills or fins of a specific fish species. The host fish provide a source of food and shelter whilethe mussels are in their most vulnerable stage of life. After the larvae have developed, they dropfrom the fish and metamorphose into juveniles. The survival of mussel populations is directlylinked to the health and presence of certain fish species.

The Littlewing pearlymussel (state and federally Endangered), a small, chalky-white mussel,prefers to live in transition zones between riffles and pools in small to medium streams with lowturbidity. The Tennessee heelsplitter (state Endangered and a federal Species Of Concern)generally prefers small streams. The Spike (state Special Concern) is found in a range ofhabitats, from small streams to large rivers and in substrates from sand to gravel and cobble.

The long-term survival of these Hiwassee mussel populations is questionable. The Littlewingpearlymussel has not been observed in the Hiwassee River basin for many years. The Tennesseeheelsplitter was last observed in the Hiwassee River basin in 1991, but there are few previousrecords of the species. Although populations of Spikes are still found in the basin, they aresusceptible to pollution, especially from sedimentation, which has a major impact on theirpopulations.

Rare Species Listing Criteria

E = Endangered (those species in danger of becoming extinct)T = Threatened (considered likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future)C = Candidate (very rare in North Carolina and likely to merit listing as endangered or threatened)WL = Watch List (declining populations, threats to populations, or inadequate information to assess its rarity in NC)SR = Significantly Rare (rare in North Carolina, but not yet officially listed as threatened or endangered)SC = Special Concern (have limited numbers in North Carolina and vulnerable populations in need of monitoring)FSC = Federal Species of Concern (those under consideration for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act)


Management Strategies for Federally Threatened and Endangered Species

Because the Littlewing pearlymussel is federally endangered, the watershed in which it wasobserved could be subject to a new rule (Administrative Code: 15A NCAC 02B .0110) requiringthe development of a site-specific management strategy. The intent of the strategy would be toprovide for maintenance and recovery of the water quality conditions required to sustain thespecies. As was mentioned previously, a number of factors can contribute to the decline ofmussel populations. Therefore, the development of such a management strategy would bedifficult. Implementation of the strategy could be even more complex. If it is determined that amanagement strategy should be developed for the watershed(s) in which the Littlewingpearlymussel is found, it would be accomplished during the next basinwide planning cycle forthe Hiwassee River basin (2003-2007).

2.6.2 Significant Natural Heritage Areas in the Hiwassee River Basin

In addition to tracking the status of individual species, the North Carolina Natural HeritageProgram identifies areas that have outstanding conservation value, either because they containrare or endangered species, or because they provide an excellent, intact example of an ecologicalcommunity which naturally occurs in the state. The Hiwassee River basin contains a number ofunique natural areas, including several important aquatic and riparian areas, presented on FigureA-8 and discussed below.

Figure A-8 Natural Heritage Areas and Public Lands in the Hiwassee River Basin


Fires Creek Watershed

The maturing forest of the Fires Creek watershed (Figure A-8) is considered significant becauseit is less fragmented than many remaining forest areas. The watershed is classified OutstandingResource Waters, indicating excellent water quality as well as its unique ecological and protectedstatus. Groups of semi-aquatic animals such as amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders) requirethe overall damp nature of a forest throughout their life cycle, in addition to access to water for atleast one stage of their lives. The Hiwassee River basin is home to a large number ofamphibians, including one frog and five salamander species that are considered significantly rareor are of special concern.

Gipp Creek

The Gipp Creek watershed is a high quality aquatic community set in a rich cove forest. Thestable slopes and abundant and mature vegetation of the understory provide a magnificentdisplay of seasonal wildflowers, in addition to having a positive effect on water quality.

Hiwassee Church Bluffs

The Hiwassee Church Bluffs are rocky cliffs along the Hiwassee River that are not only scenic,but may represent migration corridors for plant species. This is one explanation for theoccurrence of the terrestrial species prostrate eryngo (Eryngium prostratum) in the mountains,since it is generally distributed in the piedmont and coastal plain.

Die Bend/Crowder Bluff

The NC Natural Heritage Program has identified Die Bend/Crowder Bluff as a unique areabecause of the piedmont/mountain alluvial forest and floodplain pools found here. These areascontain an unusual mixture of piedmont and coastal plain species not typically found in themountains of the Blue Ridge.

Tusquitee-Big Tuni Creek

Close to the Fires Creek watershed is the Tusquitee-Big Tuni Creek natural heritage area. Withinthe waters of Fires, Tusquitee and Big Tuni Creeks lives an outstanding assemblage of rareaquatic insects, including 10 species considered Significantly Rare in North Carolina (refer toTable A-11). Hellbenders are also found here.

Mountain Bogs

Less than 500 acres of mountain bogs exist within North Carolina, while the entire AppalachianHighlands (which includes the Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, and Blue Ridge provincesof Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) contain less than6,175 acres (Moorhead and Rossell, 1998). Mountain bogs in North Carolina are generallysmall, isolated and rare wetlands largely concentrated in two areas: a band between Hendersonand Clay counties in the southern mountains; and in Avery, Watuaga, Ashe and Alleghanycounties in the northern mountains (Early, 1989).


North Carolina’s mountain bogs host 77 species of rare, threatened or endangered plants such asthe bunched arrowhead, swamp pink and Gray’s lily. In addition to harboring important plantspecies, the state’s mountain bogs also host five species of rare, threatened or endangered animals(Murdock, 1994), most notably the bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii). Of the estimated 500acres of mountain bogs in North Carolina, less than half support bog turtles (Herman, 1994).

Little research has investigated the hydrology of these bogs, but they may be found in fourprinciple positions on the landscape: 1) headwater regions of mountain streams; 2) slopesintercepting the water table and subject to constant groundwater seepage; 3) stream valleys nolonger subject to flooding; and 4) isolated systems over resistant rock strata (Walbridge, 1991;Weakley and Schafale, 1994). Although these wetlands are groundwater fed, technically called"fens" in classifications based on water source, they are locally known as bogs and have beencalled that in most publications within the state. The groundwater in fens tends to be acidic andnutrient poor, because of the rock and soil types it flows through. Groundwater in these areas ofthe Savannah River basin is less rich than is typical of most northern fens; therefore, thevegetation is more "bog-like" (Pohlman, September 2001).

Historically ditched and drained for farms, ponds and pastures, mountain bogs today are alsoimperiled by development activities. Active management of some mountain bogs has focused onprotecting or enhancing habitat for bog turtles or rare plants (Moorhead and Rossell, 1998).Since many bogs are privately owned and not actively managed or protected (Weakley andMoorhead, 1991), educating landowners on the value and significance of mountain bogs is animportant first step in their protection.

2.6.3 Public Lands in the Hiwassee River Basin

While there are no state parks in the Hiwassee River basin, the Nantahala National Forest(Tusquitee Ranger District) encompasses 134,730 acres, representing 32 percent of total landarea in the basin (Figure A-8). Much of the public land is not connected; therefore, it is rare thatan entire watershed falls within public ownership. The Fires Creek watershed is an exceptionwhere, other than a small amount of private property near the mouth, the US Forest Service(USFS) owns the entire watershed. Here, as well as in other significant natural areas that occuron National Forest land, the USFS has been asked to manage the land so as to protect the naturalfeatures that make this area unique.

2.7 Permitted Wastewater and Stormwater Discharge Facilities

Discharges that enter surface waters through a pipe,ditch or other well-defined point are broadly referredto as "point sources". Wastewater point sourcedischarges include municipal (city and county) andindustrial wastewater treatment plants and smalldomestic wastewater treatment systems servingschools, commercial offices, residential subdivisionsand individual homes. Stormwater point sourcedischarges include stormwater collection systems for

The primary pollutants associatedwith point source discharges are:

� oxygen-consuming wastes� nutrients� toxic substances including chlorine,

ammonia and metals


municipalities which serve populations greater than 100,000 and stormwater dischargesassociated with certain industrial activities. Point source dischargers in North Carolina mustapply for and obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.Discharge permits are issued under the NPDES program, which is delegated to DWQ by theEnvironmental Protection Agency.

2.7.1 Wastewater Discharges in the Hiwassee River Basin

There are 11 permitted discharges in the Hiwassee River basin. Table A-13 provides summaryinformation (by type and subbasin) about the discharges. Various types of dischargers listed inthe table are described in the inset box. A list of all facilities can be found in Appendix I.

More than half of the NPDES permitteddischarges in the Hiwassee River basinare from wastewater treatment plantsserving communities and schools. Mostof them are small facilities with less thanone million gallons of flow per day.However, there are a few largerdischarges as well. Facilities, large orsmall, where recent data show problemswith a discharge are discussed in eachsubbasin chapter in Section B.

Figure A-9 shows the location of majorand minor permitted wastewaterdischarges within the basin. The numberof sites on the map depicting majordischarges may differ from the number ofmajor facilities listed in Table A-13.Since some major facilities have morethan one outfall point, each outfallreceived a symbol on the map.

Type of Wastewater Discharge

Major Facilities: Municipal wastewater treatmentplants with flows ≥1 MGD (million gallons per day)and some industrial facilities (depending on flow andpotential impacts on public health and water quality).Minor Facilities: Any facilities not meeting thedefinition of Major.100% Domestic Waste: Facilities that only treatdomestic-type waste (water from bathrooms, sinks,washers).Municipal Facilities: Public facilities that serve amunicipality. Can treat waste from homes andindustries.Nonmunicipal: Non-public facilities that providetreatment for domestic, industrial or commercialwastewater. This category includes wastewater fromindustrial processes such as textiles, mining, powergeneration, and other facilities such as schools,subdivisions, nursing homes, groundwaterremediation projects, water treatment plants and non-process industrial wastewater.


Table A-13 Summary of NPDES Dischargers and Permitted Flows for the Hiwassee RiverBasin (as of February 2001)

Subbasin

Facility Categories 04-05-01 04-05-02 TOTAL

Total Facilities 3 8 11

Total Permitted Flow (MGD) 0.1 2.5 2.6

Major Discharges 0 2 2


Minor Discharges 3 6 9


100% Domestic Waste 2 4 6


Municipal Facilities 1 2 3


Non-municipal Facilities 2 6 8


2.7.2 Stormwater Discharges in the Hiwassee River Basin

Amendments were made to the Clean WaterAct in 1990 and most recently in 1999pertaining to permit requirements forstormwater discharges associated withindustrial activities and municipal separatestorm sewer systems (MS4s). DWQadministers these regulations in NorthCarolina through the state’s NPDESstormwater program. The goal of the DWQstormwater discharge permitting regulationsis to prevent pollution via stormwater runoffby controlling the source(s) of pollutants.

The municipal permitting requirements aredesigned to lead into the formation ofcomprehensive stormwater managementprograms for municipal areas. Nomunicipalities in the Hiwassee River basinwere required to obtain a NPDES permit forstormwater sewer systems under the Phase I

EPA Stormwater Rules

Phase I – December 1990

� Requires a NPDES permit for municipalseparate storm sewer systems (MS4s) servingpopulations of 100,000 or more.

� Requires a NPDES stormwater permit for tencategories of industry.

� Requires a NPDES stormwater permit forconstruction sites that are 5 acres or more.

Phase II – December 1999

� Requires a NPDES permit for some municipalstorm sewer systems serving populationsunder 100,000, located in urbanized areas.

� Provides a "no stormwater exposure"exemption to industrial facilities coveredunder Phase I.

� Requires a NPDES stormwater permit forconstruction sites that are larger than 1 acre.


Figure A-9 Location of NPDES Permitted Dischargers in the Hiwassee River Basin


rules (population >100,000). Additionally, no municipalities in the basin are automaticallyrequired (US Census designated Urban Areas) to obtain a NPDES stormwater permit under thePhase II rules. DWQ is currently developing criteria that will be used to determine what localgovernments should be required to obtain a NPDES stormwater permit.

Industrial activities which require permitting are defined in categories ranging from sawmills andlandfills to manufacturing plants and hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facilities.Stormwater permits are granted in the form of general permits (which cover a wide variety ofmore common activities) or individual permits. Excluding construction stormwater generalpermits, there are 18 general stormwater permits active within the Hiwassee River basin.Currently, there are no individual stormwater permits held in the basin.

The primary concern with runoff from industrial facilities is the contamination of stormwaterfrom contact with exposed materials. Poor housekeeping can lead to significant contributions ofsediment and other water quality pollutants. To address these issues, each NPDES stormwaterpermitted facility must develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP) that addressesthe facility’s potential impacts on water quality. Facilities identified as having significantpotential to impact water quality may also be required to conduct analytical monitoring tocharacterize pollutants in stormwater discharges.

The state stormwater management rules (15A NCAC 2H .1000) regulate development activitiesin 20 coastal counties and on lands statewide that drain to Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW)and/or High Quality Waters (HQW). Under this program, development is permitted as either lowdensity or high density. Low density limits the impervious, or built upon, area on a project andallows natural infiltration and attenuation of stormwater runoff. High density requiresinstallation and maintenance of structural best management practices to control and treatstormwater runoff from the site. Surface waters in the Hiwassee River basin where developmentactivities are regulated under these special rules are presented on Figure A-11 (page 35).

2.8 Animal Operations

In 1992, the Environmental Management Commission adopted a rule modification (15A NCAC2H.0217) establishing procedures for managing and reusing animal wastes from intensivelivestock operations. The rule applies to new, expanding or existing feedlots with animal wastemanagement systems designed to serve animal populations of at least the following size: 100head of cattle, 75 horses, 250 swine, 1,000 sheep or 30,000 birds (chickens and turkeys) with aliquid waste system. Within the past five years, there have been several additional pieces oflegislation enacted that affect animal operations in North Carolina.

There are only two registered animal operations in the Hiwassee River basin, containing a totalof 320 cattle (448,000 pounds Steady State Live Weight). There are no registered poultry andswine operations. Information on animal capacity by subbasin (Table A-14) was provided by theUSDA for operations (registered and unregistered) in the Hiwassee River basin. A smallpercentage of the state’s total capacity for dairy is found in the Hiwassee River basin. Overall,swine and dairy production in the Hiwassee River basin decreased from 1994 to 1998 whilepoultry production increased by four percent.


Table A-14 Estimated Populations of Swine, Dairy and Poultry in the Hiwassee River Basin(1998 and 1994)

SubbasinTotal Swine

CapacitySwine

ChangeTotal Dairy

CapacityDairy

ChangePoultry

CapacityPoultryChange

1998 1994 94-98 (%) 1998 1994 94-98 (%) 1998 1994 94-98 (%)

04-05-01 460 516 -11 403 546 -26 130,100 86,105 51

04-05-02 81 214 -62 625 736 -15 1,057,300 1,056,739 0

TOTALS 541 730 -26 1,028 1,282 -20 1,187,400 1,142,844 4

% of State Total <1% <1% 1% 1% <1% <1%

2.9 Water Use and Minimum Streamflow

2.9.1 Local Water Supply Planning

The North Carolina General Assembly mandated a local and state water supply planning processin 1989 to assure that communities have an adequate supply of potable water for future needs.Under this statute, all units of local government that provide, or plan to provide, public watersupply service are required to prepare a Local Water Supply Plan (LWSP) and to update that planat least every five years. The information presented in a LWSP is an assessment of a watersystem’s present and future water needs and its ability to meet those needs.

Surface water is used to meet 85 percent of overall water needs in the North Carolina portion ofthe Hiwassee River basin. In 1997, four public water systems used water from the basin,providing 1.8 million gallons per day to 9,070 people. Water demand from these public systemsis projected to increase 40 percent by 2020. Two systems reported that by 2020 demand levelswill exceed 80 percent of available supply.

Not everyone gets water from public water supply systems. Many households and farms supplytheir own water from both surface and groundwater sources in the basin. The US GeologicalSurvey estimates that self-supplied users, excluding power-generating facilities, account for 86percent of the total water used in the Hiwassee River basin. Water used for livestock andirrigation purposes comprises the majority of self-supplied water use in the basin (Figure A-10).

The State Water Supply Plan is a compilation of over 500 LWSPs developed by localgovernment water systems in North Carolina. More detailed information is available in the planabout water supply and water usage in the Hiwassee River basin. This plan is available online atthe Division of Water Resources website at http://www.dwr.ehnr.state.nc.us or by calling (919) 733-4064.


Self-Supplied Water Usage in the Hiwassee River Basin

Figure A-10 Estimated Self-Supplied Water Use in the Hiwassee River Basin(Source: NCDENR-DWR, January 2001)

2.9.2 Water Withdrawals

Prior to 1999, North Carolina required water users to register their water withdrawals with theDivision of Water Resources (DWR) only if the amount was 1,000,000 gallons or more ofsurface or groundwater per day. In 1999, the registration threshold for all water users exceptagriculture was lowered to 100,000 gallons per day. Table A-15 presents registered withdrawals.

Table A-15 Registered Water Withdrawals in the Hiwassee River Basin

County1999

Average(MGD)

1999Maximum

(MGD)

Sourceof

WithdrawalFacility

Cherokee 0.027 0.076 Groundwater Carolina Water Service – Bear Paw

Cherokee 0.864 0.864 Owl Creek Craig’s Trout Farm Inc.

Clay 0.005 0.010 Unnamed Stream Harrison Construction – Hayesville Quarry

Cherokee 0 0 Unnamed Stream Harrison Construction – Cherokee County Quarry

There are four registered water withdrawals in the North Carolina portion of the Hiwassee Riverbasin. Three of these (75 percent) are surface water withdrawals. Excluding public watersystems or power generating facilities, there is a cumulative permitted capacity to withdraw874,000 gallons of surface water per day.

Livestock83%

Domestic11%

Irrigation5%

Commercial<1%


2.9.3 Interbasin Transfers

In addition to water withdrawals (discussed above), water users in North Carolina are alsorequired to register surface water transfers with the Division of Water Resources if the amount is100,000 gallons per day or more. In addition, persons wishing to transfer two million gallons perday or more, or increase an existing transfer by 25 percent or more, must first obtain a certificatefrom the Environmental Management Commission (G.S. 143-215.22I). The river basinboundaries that apply to these requirements are designated on a map entitled Major River Basinsand Sub-Basins in North Carolina, on file in the Office of the Secretary of State. Theseboundaries differ slightly from the 17 major river basins delineated by DWQ.

In determining whether a certificate should be issued, the state must determine that the overallbenefits of a transfer outweigh the potential impacts. A provision of the interbasin transfer lawrequires that an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement be prepared inaccordance with the State Environmental Policy Act as supporting documentation for a transferpetition. Currently, there are no certified or known potential interbasin transfers in the HiwasseeRiver basin.

2.9.2 Minimum Streamflow

One of the purposes of the Dam Safety Law is to ensure maintenance of minimum streamflowsbelow dams. Conditions may be placed on dam operations specifying mandatory minimumreleases in order to maintain adequate quantity and quality of water in the length of a streamaffected by an impoundment. The Division of Water Resources, in conjunction with the WildlifeResources Commission, recommends conditions relating to the release of flows to satisfyminimum instream flow requirements. The permits are issued by the Division of LandResources. Table A-16 summarizes minimum flow requirements in the Hiwassee River basin.

Table A-16 Minimum Streamflow Projects in the Hiwassee River Basin

Name Location Waterbody Drainage Area(sq. mi.)

Min. Release(cu.ft/sec)

Hydroelectric Dams:

Chatuge Dam Near the NC/GA state line nearHayesville, NC

Hiwassee River 187 83

Mission Clay County near theClay/Cherokee county line

Hiwassee River 2801

Hiwassee Dam Cherokee county NW ofMurphy below Beaverdam Cr.

Hiwassee River 968

Apalachia Dam Near the NC/TN state line Hiwassee River 1,006

Nottely Dam In Georgia near the NC/GAstate line

Nottely River 50

1 If inflow is less than the specified minimum release, the release must be equal to the inflow. In other words, the project mustoperate in a run-of-river mode (i.e., instantaneous inflow equals instantaneous outflow) until the inflow becomes greater thanthe specified minimum release.


Hydroelectric Project Relicensing

As presented in Table A-16, there are five hydroelectric dams that affect streamflow and, to someextent, water quality in the Hiwassee River basin. The license issued by the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission (FERC) to the Nantahala Power and Light Division of Duke Energy forthe operation of the Mission Project expires in 2005. During relicensing, Duke Energy willexamine project operations and equipment technology to prevent deviations from the run-of-rivermode during low flow events and project maintenance activities. Several other studies have alsobeen proposed. For further information, visit the website athttp://www.nantahalapower.com/relicensing/actionlist.html/.

Documents

Chapter 2 Quality/Planning/BPU/BPU... · 2018-06-19 · Section A: Chapter 2 – Hiwassee River Basin Overview 11 2.2 Local Governments and Planning Jurisdictions in the Basin The